Hand-held electrically selectable labeler

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a hand-held labeler having a print head with electrically selectable printing elements for printing and applying pressure sensitive labels. The labeler has a housing with a handle and structure for mounting a roll of pressure sensitive labels releasably carried on a carrier web. The labeler has a movable section which mounts a keyboard and a control circuit on a circuit board. The control circuit controls the printing elements. Labels are printed by the printing elements as the carrier web is advanced, and labels are delaminated at a delaminator and dispensed into label applying relation to an applicator.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of copending patent application Ser.No. 268,590, filed on May 29, 1981, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,692.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the art of handheld labelers.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

A prior art hand-held labeler using thermographic printing means isdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 928,522, filed July 27,1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,264,396 and corresponding European patentapplication No. 78300187.8 filed July 21, 1978, published Feb. 7, 1978.Mechanically operated labelers are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,957,562granted May 18, 1976 to Paul H. Hamisch, Jr. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,747granted Sept. 26, 1978 to Paul H. Hamisch, Jr. A hand-held labeler witha battery in the handle portion is disclosed in German Patent No.2,253,565 granted Dec. 16, 1976 to Schroter. Also, various stationaryprinters utilizing various single and multiple line thermographic printheads are known.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a hand-held labeler for printing and applyingpressure sensitive labels. The labeler has a housing which mounts alabel roll. The roll includes a carrier web on which a series ofpressure sensitive labels are releasably mounted. Printing isaccomplished by a print head comprising an array of individuallycontrollable printing elements disposed in a dot matrix, and preferablyarranged in a single line array disposed in a direction transverse tothe direction of advancement of the web. The array can be relativelyshort, i.e., the length or width of a single character, or can extendsubstantially across the entire printing area of the web. In the lattercase, characters of any size, font and orientation can be printed byenergizing the individual printing elements in the proper sequence. Eachof the individual elements of the array may be directly connected to thecircuitry controlling the print head, or a serial-to-parallel convertermay be incorporated in the print head to make the elements seriallyaddressable. The use of serially addressable elements has the advantagethat it substantially reduces the number of leads needed to interconnectthe print head with the control circuitry, particularly if a long arraycontaining a large number of elements is used, and increases the numberof individual printing elements that can be provided in a practicalsystem. The time duration of the actuation of the individual printingelements can be made controllable, as is the case when thermographicprinting elements are employed, the characters can be made to appear asif they were printed by an array of individual elements, or continuouslyprinted, simply by varying the length of time that the actuators areactuated. Finally, multiple lines of print, disposed eitherlongitudinally or transversely to the direction of elongation of the webcan be provided, and such multiple lines can be interspersed with singlelines of print of equal or different size characters by appropriateprogramming of the print head control circuitry.

The invention provides a convenient to use, compact arrangement for ahand-held labeler. The applicator is disposed at the front portion ofthe housing and the label roll is mounted at a rear portion of thehousing. The housing has a section for mounting a keyboard. The keyboardor other input terminal is used to input data to a central microcomputercircuit which in turn controls the printing elements and operates avisual display. In one embodiment, the carrier web is advanced by meansof a stepping motor controlled by the microcomputer and coupled to afeed wheel through a speed reducer. In another embodiment, the carrierweb is advanced by a manually operable actuator disposed at the handle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hand-held labeler in accordance withone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the labeler showingstructure located in the housing;

FIG. 3 is a perspective partially exploded view of a drive mechanism fora toothed feed wheel;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship ofthermographic printing elements to a platen roller;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partly broken away, side elevational view ofthe labeler;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a print head assembly andstructure to which it is mounted;

FIG. 7 is a perspective, partly phantom view of a labeler similar to theembodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6, but using a manual drive for thecarrier web;

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective, diagrammatic view showing the drivefor the carrier web;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a fluidic drive for driving the feedwheel at a substantially constant rate irrespective of the speed ofactuation of a manually operable actuator;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a fragment of the fluidic device;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing the manner in which a label roll anda battery which it carries are mounted in the labeler;

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram of the electronic controlcircuitry of the labeler according to the invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of the microcomputer utilized in thelabeler;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a stepper motor driver usable inconjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a thermographic print head and controlcircuitry usable in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a visual display and display driverusable in conjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a reset circuit for the microcomputerutilized in the present invention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 are illustrations of two different thermographic printheads usable in conjunction with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an illustration of various types of characters that can beprinted by the labeling machine according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 21-26 are logical flow diagrams describing the logical sequence ofoperations performed by the microcomputer during data input and labelprinting operations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a hand-held labelergenerally indicated at 20. The labeler 20 includes a housing generallyindicated at 21 comprised of housing sections 22 and 23 which defineopposite sides of the labeler 20. The housing 21 also includes a movablehousing section 24 as shown to be pivotally mounted on the same axis asthe label applicator 25 which is shown to comprise a rotatable roll. Thehousing also includes a handle 26 provided by the outer shell of arechargeable battery. The handle 26 is removable as shown by phantomlines in FIG. 1. As seen, the applicator 25 is disposed at the frontportion of the housing 21 and a label roll R is mounted to a rearportion of the housing 21. A keyboard 27 having a plurality of manuallyselectable keys 28 is shown to be disposed at a top portion of thehousing 21. A visual display 29 is disposed adjacent the keyboard 27 andis shown to face upwardly and rearwardly. More specifically, thekeyboard 27 and the display 29 are mounted on the movable section 24 ofthe housing 21. The movable section 24 can be latched in the closedposition by means of latch teeth 30 (FIG. 2) which cooperate withmanually movable latches 31 mounted by the respective housing sections22 and 23. However, the latches 31 are movable to release the movablesection 24 so that the movable section 24 can be pivoted to the openposition shown in FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is diagrammatically illustrated aprinted circit board 32 disposed in underlying relationship with respectto the keyboard 27. The circuit board is shown to be adjacent andgenerally parallel to the keyboard 27, as also shown in FIG. 5. Aflexible, ribbon connector 33 comprised of a suitable number ofside-by-side electrical conductors (not shown) is connected to a switch34, to a stepping motor 35 (FIG. 3), and to a plurality of electricallyselectable printing elements 36' disposed on a print head 36. The switch34 has a switch button 37 disposed at the handle 26 in a position to beoperated by the user's index finger. The stepping motor 35 has an outputshaft 38 to which a spur gear 39 is secured. The spur gear 39 is apinion and is relatively small. The spur gear 39 meshes with arelatively large gear 40 to which is secured a relatively small gear 41.The gear 41 is a pinion for a relatively large gear 42. A drive shaft 43secured to the gear 42 drives a feed wheel 44 having a plurality ofperipherally spaced teeth 45. The teeth 45 engage a carrier web W atcuts C to draw the carrier web W and labels L which it carries from thelabel roll R. As best shown in FIG. 5, the web W is drawn over the rollR and passes over a resilient device 46 to between a brake roll 47 and abrake surface 48, to and partially around a roll 49, to between theprinting elements 36 and the platen 50, through a sharp bend about adelaminator 51 where the leading label on the web W is dispensed intolabel applying relationship with respect to applicator 25, partiallyaround a roll 52, partially around a roll 53, into engagement with thetoothed feed wheel 44, and out of the apparatus as indicated at 54. Withreference to FIG. 4, it will be noted that in the event there is nocarrier web W between the printing elements 36' and the platen 50,flanges or rolls 50' contacting the platen support 58 at locations 50"will prevent the printing elements 36' from contacting the platen roll50. This will prevent damage to both the platen 50 and to the printingelements 36' which can result from energization of the printing elements36'. For example, if the labeler 20 has a thermographic print head 36,the printing elements will not burn or fuse onto the platen 50, and theprinting elements 36' will not be ruined.

With reference to FIG. 6, there are shown fragmentary portions ofsubframe sections 55 and 56 mounted on the housing 21. The subframesections mount a platen assembly generally indicated at 57. The subframesections 55 and 56 also mount the delaminator 51 and the roller 52. Theplaten assembly 57 includes a support 58 for the print head 36. Asshown, the print head 36 includes plurality of separate printingelements 36'. The printing elements 36' are each connected to one of theconductors of the ribbon connector 33 and are separately energizable.Alternatively, a serial-to-parallel converter (not shown) may be mountedadjacent to the head 36 and interposed between the elements 36' and theribbon connector 33 in order to reduce the number of conductors requiredin the ribbon connector 33. The use of such a converter is particularlyadvantageous when a long array containing a large number of elements isused as the print head 36. The labels L are sensitive to heat and theheated area of the label L which a heated printing element 36' contactswill change color, for example, become darker. A deflector 59 guides adelaminated label into label applying relationship with respect to theapplicator 25. The support 58 rotatably mounts the roll 49 about whichthe carrier web W passes. A retainer plate 60 having a plurality ofhold-down fingers 61 holds the ribbon connector 33 in position. Screws62 are threadably received by the support 58. A retainer 63 also holdsthe ribbon connector 33 in position. Screws 64 are threadably receivedby the support 58. The support 58 has oppositely extending projections65 and 66. The respective projections 65 and 66 threadably receive athreaded portion 67 of a pin 68. Each pin 68 has an enlarged portionproviding a shoulder 69. A spring 70 nests in a pocket 71 and bearsagainst the respective subframe sections 55 and 56. The other end of therespective spring 70 bears against the shoulder 69 to urge the support58 and the print head 36 which it carries in the counterclockwisedirection. The support 58 is pivotally mounted on a pin 72 which alsomounts the roll 49. The pin 72 is received in elongated holes 72' inrespective subframe sections 55 and 56. The springs 70 urge the printingelements 36' into contact with the adjacent label L as best shown inFIG. 4. The printing elements 36' exert a selected amount of pressureagainst the label L in accordance with the adjustment of the threadedpins 68. Because the pin 72 is undersize with respect to the holes 72 inwhich it is received, the support 58 and the print head 36 can skew withrepect to the platen 50. As shown, the printing elements 36' arearranged in a line which extends transversely to the direction ofmovement of the carrier web W. If, for example, either end portion ofthe line of printing elements 36 is bearing too heavily against thelabel L, the respective threaded pin 68 adjacent that end can be turnedto reduce the spring pressure. It is a feature of the invention to beable to skew the support 58 by adjusting means which are disposed atspaced apart locations. Both housing sections 22 and 23 have enlargedcutouts or holes 75 into which the projections 65 and 66 respectivelyproject. The projections 65 and 66 extend far enough so that they can beeasily actuated by the user. During threading of the labeler 20, thecarrier web W is passed along the path illustrated in FIG. 5. When theleading end of the carrier web W is in position to be passed between theprint head 36 and the platen 50, the user pushes on the projections 65and 66 to pivot the support clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6 to movethe printing elements 36' away from the platen 50. In this way theleading end of the carrier W can be pushed through the space between theprinting elements 36' and the platen 50. If desired, the print head 36can be fixedly held in position and the platen 50 can be selectablymoved toward and away from the print head 36 by an alternativeconstruction, not shown. When the threading of the labeler is complete,the projections 65 and 66 can be released whereupon the springs 70 urgethe support 58 and the print head 36 counterclockwise to their normalposition as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 through 10, there is shown alabeler 20A identical to the labeler 20 except as described below. Thelabeler 20A uses a drive for advancing the carrier web W which ismanually powered. The handle 74 mounts a pivot 75 for a manuallyengageable lever actuator 76. The lever actuator 76 carries a gearsection 77 which meshes with a gear 78. The gear 78 carries a pawl 79which cooperates with a ratchet wheel 80 secured to the feed wheel 44.The ratchet wheel 80 is shown to have a plurality of teeth 81 with whicha pawl 79 cooperates. A fluidic device generally indicated at 82 isshown to be disposed in the handle 74 and bears against the handle 74and the actuator or lever 76. The fluidic device 82 includes a tubularcylinder 83 having a closed end portion 84 and a tubular piston 85having a closed end portion 86. The cylinder 83 and the piston 85 haverespective integrally formed bearings 87 and 88 in contact with bearingsurfaces 89 and 90 of the handle 90 of the handle 74 and the lever 76,respectively. The cylinder 83 has an internal flange 91, and the piston85 has an external flange 92 to limit separational movement. A resilientO-ring 93 is disposed between the piston 85 and the cylinder 83 toprovide an air seal therebetween. The cylinder 83 and the piston 85combine to provide a chamber 94. A compression-type drive spring 95 isdisposed in the chamber 94 and bears against respective end portions 84and 86 of the cylinder 83 and the piston 85. The drive spring 95 can belocated outside the chamber according to another embodiment, if desired.The end portion 84 contains a restricted orifice 96 and the end portion86 contains an opening 97 which is alternately opened and closed bymeans of a valve 98. The construction of the valve 98 and the endportion 86 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 10. The valve 98 is ofthe flapper type and has an anchor portion 99 anchored in a recess 100.The valve 98 has a flexible resilient portion 101. The opening 97 has atapered entry 102 for receiving the valve 98. The opening 97 isconsiderably larger than the restricted orifice 96. When it is desiredto operate the labeler 20A, the user squeezes the lever 76 to cause thepiston 85 to telescope into the cylinder 83 and compress the drivespring 95, thereby causing air within the chamber 94 to pass outwardlythrough the orifice 96 and the opening 97, and the fluidic device 82provides essentially no fluid resistance because air can readily escapefrom the chamber 94. Essentially all of the resistance is afforded bythe spring 95. When the lever 76 is released the spring 95 acts on thelever 76 to drive the gear 98 and in turn the ratchet wheel 80 and thefeed wheel 44 at an essentially constant rate. It is noted that uponrelease of the lever 76, the valve 98 closes so that the only airentering the chamber 94 is through the restricted orifice 96.Accordingly, the fluidic device 82 moves from its distended position toits extended position at a controlled, essentially constant rate.Accordingly, the feed wheel 44 is driven at an essentially constantrate. Printing on the labels L takes place while the carrier web W andthe label L which it carries are advancing through the labeler 28. Toaccommodate for variations in the angular velocity of the feed wheel 44,a shaft encoder generally indicated at 103 is provided. The shaftencoder 103 includes a plurality of markings 104 on the feed wheel 44and a pickup device or sensor 105.

Because the labeler 20A does not rely on battery energy to advance thecarrier W, the battery used to energize the printing elements 36' can berelatively small. According to the invention, a battery 107 ispositioned in a central hole 106 in the label roll R as best shown inFIG. 11. It is preferred that the battery 107 fit snugly in the labelroll hole 106. As shown, the frame sections 55 and 56 rotatably mountroll mounting members 108. Electrical contacts generally indicated at109 are suitably mounted within the mounting members 108 and are urgedby respective springs 110 into contact with opposed terminals 111 and112 of the battery 107. Electrical energy from the battery 107 is passedfrom the contacts 109 to conductors 113 and to the ribbon connector 33to the circuit board 32. The battery 107 can be part and parcel of thelabel roll R in which event the battery 107 would fit snugly in thelabel hole 106.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown the interrelationship betweenmany of the previously described mechanical and electromechanicalportions of the labeler such as the keyboard 27, the display 29, thestepping motor 35, the print head 36, the trigger 37 and the controlcircuitry, which is responsive to inputs from the keyboard 27 and thetrigger 37 and serves to control the display 29, the stepping motor 35and the print head 36. The control circuitry is generally designated bythe reference numeral 200 in FIG. 12, and comprises a microcomputer 202which includes a central processing unit, a read-only memory and arandom-access memory (not shown in FIG. 12 but described in a subsequentportion of the application) which cooperate to perform the functionsrequired to receive data from the keyboard 27 and provide the requiredcomputations to drive the display 29, the stepping motor 35 and theprint head 36 in accordance with the instructions received from thekeyboard 27. The control signals from the microcomputer 202 that drivethe display 29 are applied to a display driver 204 and are processedthereby to convert the data from the microcomputer 202 to segmentdriving data that activate predetermined segments of the display 29. Amotor driver 206 is responsive to step data from the microcomputer 202and serves to energize various windings of the stepping motor 35 in apredetermined sequence in response to the step data in order to causethe motor 35 to rotate. A print head driver 208 provides power to theindividual elements of the print head 36. The print head driver may besimply a plurality of amplifiers, one for each element, which amplifysignals from the microcomputer 202, or may include a serial-to-parallelconverter that converts serial digital data from the microcomputer 202to parallel data for driving each of the individual elements of theprint head 36. When a serial-to-parallel converter is employed, theprint head driver 208 is preferably located on the same hybrid circuitboard as the print head 36 in order to substantially reduce the numberof leads required between the microcomputer 202 and the assemblycontaining the print head 36. This substantial reduction is achievedbecause each element of the print head 36 must have an individual leadconnected thereto, and if the print head driver 208 contained onlyamplifiers, or if it were not located on the same circuit board as theprint head 36, the cable interconnecting the print head circuit boardand the microcomputer would require a lead for each element. Sinceseveral hundred elements can be contained in the print head, it wouldnot be practical to build such a cable. However, by including aserial-to-parallel converter in the print head driver, and by locatingthe print head driver 208 on the same hybrid circuit board as the printhead 36, only that number of leads required to supply the required dataat the desired printing rate need be provided.

A switch 210 is controlled by the trigger 37 and causes themicrocomputer 202 to advance the stepping motor 35 in order to cause themotor 35 to feed the web whenever the trigger 37 is depressed. A stopfeed switch 212, which may be controlled, for example, by a cam 35'driven by the motor 35, or by a notch or the like in the web, is coupledto the microcomputer 202 and serves to terminate the advancement of theweb after the web has been advanced a predetermined amount, generallythe length or width of a label. A reset circuit 214 is coupled to thesource of power for the labeler, such as, for example, the output of theregulated voltage which powers the control circuitry, resets themicrocomputer 202 each time the power is turned on to assure that noextraneous data is present in the microcomputer 202 prior to the entryof any data by the keyboard 27.

In operation, data to be printed is entered into the microcomputer 202manually via the keyboard 27, or automatically from another computer ordata output source, such as, for example, a cassette recorder (notshown). The entered data may be numeric, alphanumeric and may be ofvarious fonts and sizes, depending on the complexity of the programstored in the microcomputer 202. For example, if the data were enteredfrom the keyboard 27, any of the digits 0 through 9 could be entered, aswell as a dollar sign, slash and period. Also, with an appropriateprogram, the font can be changed to larger or block letters, forexample, by depressing the BK key on the keyboard 27. Spaces can beentered by depressing the S key, and the memory can be cleared in theevent of an error by depressing the C key. Also, different fonts can beentered by depressing various combinations of keys, for example, bysimultaneously pressing the BK and $ keys prior to or while enteringdata if the microcomputer 202 is programmed to recognize suchcombinations.

Each line of entered data is displayed on the display 29 as it is beingentered, and if two lines of data are being entered, the display iscleared after the entry of the first line so that the second line can bedisplayed. Once the input data has been correctly entered, as evidencedby the display 29, any number of labels can be printed by depressing thetrigger 37 to close the switch 210. The closing of the switch 210 causesthe microcomputer 202 to energize the motor 35 via the motor driver 206,and to maintain the motor 35 energized until the switch 212 is closed,for example, by a notch or other indexing mark on the web, or by a cam35' or the like driven by the motor 35 which indicates that a completelabel has been printed. The motor is then deenergized, and the printingwill stop until the trigger 37 is depressed again.

During the time that the motor 35 is being driven by the microcomputer202, the various elements in the print head 36 are energized by themicrocomputer 202 via the print head driver 208 in the sequencenecessary to cause the input data to be printed in the desired font. Thedata from the microcomputer 202 is applied to the print head driver 208in parallel or serial form, preferably in serial form, in which case theprint head driver converts the input information into parallel form forsimultaneously energizing all of the elements in the line array thatneed to be energized in order to define one line of the array formingthe character or characters being printed.

The microcomputer 202 of FIG. 12 is illustrated in greater detail inFIG. 13. The microcomputer 202 can take on many differentconfigurations, and a typical configuration is illustrated in FIG. 13.In the circuit illustrated in FIG. 13, the microcomputer 202 contains acentral processing unit (CPU) 220 which contains, in the presentembodiment, an onboard random-access memory (RAM) having a capacity of128 bytes, as well as an internal clock whose frequency is controlled bya quartz crystal 222 and a pair of capacitors 224 and 226. In thepresent embodiment, an MC 6802 integrated circuit manufactured byMotorola, Incorporated, is used as the central processing unit 220;however, many similar integrated circuits manufactured by othermanufacturers are available.

A read-only memory (ROM) 228 is used in conjunction with the centralprocessing unit 220. The read-only memory 228 serves to store variousdata such as the program that controls the operation of the CPU 220,various data, format data, error checking data, and variousmiscellaneous data necessary to assure proper operation of the labeler.As in the case of the central processing unit 220, various circuitssuitable for use as the read-only memory 228 are available, but in thepresent embodiment, a type 2716 read-only memory, which is capable ofstoring 16,000 bits of information, or 2,000 words of 8 bits each, isused as the read-only memory 228. The capacity of the read-only memory228 may be either increased or reduced as necessary, depending on thenumber of functions desired of the labeling machine, and the number offonts and formats required. The type 2716 read-only memory illustratedin FIG. 13 is manufactured by Motorola, Incorporated, Texas Instrumentsand other manufacturers.

The microcomputer 202 also contains a programmable timer module (PTM)230 which operates in conjunction with the CPU 220 and provides varioustiming signals, such as, for example, timing signals for controlling thetime duration that the thermographic printing elements are energized, aswell as a 32 Hz signal (and a 32 Hz inverted signal from the invertingamplifier 232) necessary for the operation of the display driver 204. Inaddition, a 3 to 8 bit demultiplexer 234, which may be a 74 LS 138demultiplexer available from various manufacturers, as well as a pair ofperipheral interface adapters (PIA's) 236 and 238, which may be, forexample, a type MC 6821 peripheral interface adapter available fromvarious manufacturers, are also employed. The function of the 3 to 8 bitdemultiplexer 234 is to select small portions of the memory 228 forfurther processing by the CPU 220, and the peripheral interface adapters236 and 238 serve to provide an interface between the various peripheralelements of the labeling machine, such as, for example, the keyboard 27,the start feed trigger 37, the stop feed switch 212, as well as theprint head driver 208 and display driver 204.

In the schematic diagram illustrated in FIG. 13, most of the connectionsto the various integrated circuits are designated by three differentdesignations, namely, by the pin number of the integrated circuitpackage, by the integrated circuit manufacturer's mnemonic designation,and by an interconnection designation which defines the interconnectionsbetween the various integrated circuits. In the diagram of FIG. 13, thepin number designations are shown above each lead to each integratedcircuit, and are positioned just outside of the blocks that representeach of the integrated circuits. Typical pin designations range from 1through 16 for an integrated circuit requiring relatively fewconnections, such as the demultiplexer 234 to a range of 1 through 40for integrated circuits requiring more connections, such as the CPU 220and the peripheral interface adaptors 236 and 238. The manufacturer'smnemonics are placed adjacent to the pin numbers inside the variousblocks representing the various integrated circuits, and serve generallyto identify the various functions performed. For example, mnemonicsbeginning with a prefix A indicate address bits and mnemonics beginningwith the prefix D indicate data bits. Finally, the interconnectiondesignations are placed adjacent the pin numbers outside of the variousblocks defining the various integrated circuits. These interconnectiondesignations are also mnemonic in form, and if the same interconnectiondesignation is present on leads extending from two or more differentintegrated circuits, it indicates that those leads are interconnected.Using this convention in a specific example, the lead designated AD 0 onthe CPU 220 would be connected to the leads designated AD 0 on the ROM228, the PIA1 236 and the PIA2 238.

In operation, data is entered into the CPU 220 from the keyboard 27 viathe PIA1 236. The PIA1 236 is sensitive to interconnections between theterminals designated as COL1 through COL4 and ROW1 through ROW4 todetermine which of the switches of the keyboard 27 have been closed by adepression of the corresponding keys during the entry of data. The datathus entered is converted by the PIA1 236 to display data at outputs D1through D4 for driving the display driver 204, as well as to data usableby the CPU 220 appearing at the outputs DB0 through DB7 of the PIA1 236.The entered data is also applied to the PTM 230, as well as to the PIA2238 which receives the entered data (after processing by the CPU 220)and drives various elements of the print head 36 corresponding tooutputs DOT1 through DOT7 of the PIA2 238. The PIA2 238 alsosequentially strobes the six digits of the display via the outputs DIG1through DIG6.

In addition, the PIA1 236 drives the motor driver 206 by applying motorphase signals A1, A2, and B1, B2 sequentially to the motor driver 206whenever the switch 210 is closed by depressing the trigger 37. Thedrive signals continue to be generated until the sensing switch 212 isclosed by an index mark on the web, or otherwise.

The motor driver 206 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 14, andcomprises four amplifier drivers 240, 242, 244 and 246, which drive onewinding 248 of the stepper motor 35, and four amplifier drivers 250,252, 254 and 256, which drive a second winding 258 of the motor 35. Themotor driver 206 is responsive to the A1, A2, and B1, B2 signals fromthe PIA1 236 and serves alternatively to energize the windings 248 and258 in opposite directions depending upon which one of the signals A1,A2, or B1, B2 is present, and causes the motor to be advanced one stepeach time the signal present at A1, A2, B1, or B2 is stepped.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, each of the DOT1 through DOT7outputs from the PIA2 238 drives a single printing element of the printhead 36. Such a system is acceptable as long as the number ofindividually actuable printing elements remains relatively small, as inthe case of the seven elements driven by the outputs DOT1 through DOT7.However, if a print head having a substantially larger number ofindividually selectable printing elements is required, the number ofleads required between the PIA2 238 and the print head 36 can rapidlybecome excessive. For example, if the print head 236 containstwo-hundred fifty-six individually addressable elements, two-hundredfifty-six individual leads would be required to interconnect the printhead 36 and the PIA2 238 if the system of FIG. 13 were employed. Thiswould result in a highly impractical structure. Therefore, in order toavoid this problem, and in accordance with another important aspect ofthe present invention, the PIA2 238 is replaced with the circuitry ofFIG. 15, generally designated by the reference numeral 238', whichdrives the circuitry and thermal elements located on a thick filmsubstrate 239 which may be a thick film print head of the typemanufactured by the R.ohm Corporation of Irvine, Calif.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, a PIA 260 receives datarepresentative of the character to be printed from the CPU 220 via thedata lines DB0 through DB7. The data thus received is converted toserial form and appears at the output of the PIA 260 designated as DATAIN. In addition, common signals designated as COMM1 and COMM2, as wellas strobe signals STRSELA through STRSELD, whose function will bedescribed in a subsequent portion of the specification, are generated.The DATA IN signals are applied to a shift register 262 (located on thesubstrate 239) which stores the serial data, and the COMM1 and COMM2signals are applied to alternate printing elements of the thermographicprinting head 36 (also located on the substrate 239). The STRSELAthrough STRSELD signals are applied to a 4 to 16 bit demultiplexer 264,which may be a type 74154 demultiplexer manufactured by variousmanufacturers.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15, the print head 36 is alsolocated on the substrate 239 and contains two-hundred fifty-sixindividual printing elements connected to a one-hundred twenty-eightstage shift register (located on the substrate 239) via one-hundredtwenty-eight drivers which, in the present embodiment, are one-hundredtwenty-eight AND gates (also located on the substrate 239).

The two-hundred fifty-six printing elements 36' are connected to twocommon lines, namely, the lines designated as COMM1 and COMM2 bytwo-hundred fifty-six diodes 270 (located on the substrate 239).One-hundred twenty-eight of the diodes 270 are connected to the commonline COMM1 and the one-hundred twenty-eight diodes 270 are connected tothe common line COMM2. Each of the AND gates 266 is connected to a pairof adjacent resistive thermal printing elements, and each element ofeach pair of adjacent printing elements is connected to a different oneof the lines COMM1 and COMM2 via one of the diodes 270. Thus, a singleone of each pair of adjacent printing elements can be selected byaddressing both elements of the pair via the appropriate AND gate 266,and energizing one of the common lines COMM1 or COMM2 to determine whichprinting element of the pair is to be energized.

As a result of the use of the two common lines COMM1 and COMM2, theshift register 262 need have only one-hundred twenty-eight stages ratherthan two-hundred fifty-six, or one-half the number of printing elements.The data for the one-hundred twenty-eight printing elements associatedwith the common line COMM1 is first loaded into the shift register 262via the DATA IN line, and the common line COMM1 is energized in order toenergize the one-hundred twenty-eight printing elements associated withthe common line COMM1 in accordance with the data stored in the shiftregister 262 at that time. Subsequently, data for the one-hundredtwenty-eight printing elements connected to the common line COMM2 isloaded into the shift register 262 via the DATA IN line, and the commonline COMM2 is energized in order to energize various ones of theprinting elements associated with the common line COMM2 in accordancewith the data now stored in the shift register 262. Thus, by loading thedata into the shift register 262 in two passes and alternatelyenergizing one-half of the two-hundred fifty-six print elements of theprint head 36, the number of stages in the shift register 262 can bereduced by a factor of two.

The previous discussion assumed that all of the AND gates 266 werecontinuously enabled, and as a result, would transfer the contents ofthe shift register 262 independently of any other inputs applied to theAND gates 266. Such a system is readily workable and can be achievedsimply by making the second input of each of the AND gates 266 high.However, under certain circumstances, particularly as in the case of ahand held labeler, the battery power available to drive the print head36 is limited. Consequently, it is not desirable to drive as many asone-half of the total number of print elements at any one time sincethis requires a substantial amount of peak battery power. Consequently,the AND gates 266 are strobed in sixteen strobes STR1 through STR16, inthe present embodiment, under the control of the strobe signals STRSCLAthrough STRSCLD. As a result, no more than eight printing elements areenergized at any one time, thus providing a substantial reduction inpeak power requirements. Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15,the data for one-hundred twenty-eight printing elements is first storedin the shift register 262, and the AND gates 66 are strobedsequentially, eight at a time, in a sixteen strobe sequence until allone-hundred twenty-eight of the AND gates 266 have been strobed. Thenthe data for the second one-hundred twenty-eight printing elements isloaded into the shift register 262, and the AND gates 266 are againsequentially strobed to energize the second group of printing elements.Although, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 15 uses a sixteen strobesequence, it should be understood that any number of strobes may be usedin the sequence, and if more battery or other peak power is available, ashorter sequence wherein a greater number of the AND gates 266 aresimultaneoulsy strobed during each strobe may be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the individual printing elements 36' arealigned in a straight line array disposed in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of travel of the carrier web W; however,the printing elements 36' may be arranged in various patterns, and theprint head 36 may be skewed with respect to the direction of travel ofthe web W, depending on practical design considerations and intendeduse. For example, a single line array of the type illustrated in FIG.15B provides a great deal of format flexibility, and permits virtuallyany character or symbol to be printed, depending on the sophisticationof the microprocessor 220, its associated components and programming. Ifonly a few characters of a particular type are required, the single linearray may be skewed or even curved to accomodate the particular type ofcharacters being printed, and thus permit a reduction in the complexityof the microprocessor 220 and its associated circuitry and programming.Also, for other applications, it may be desired to use a multiple lineprinting head, a matrix, or even to offset alternate ones of theprinting elements 36 in the direction of travel of the web W tocompensate for web movement during the interval between energization ofthe lines COMM1 and COMM2. If the printing elements are energizedsequentially, the line may be skewed to compensate for web movement.

The display driver 204 and the display 29 are illustrated in greaterdetail in FIG. 16. As is illustrated in FIG. 16, the display 29, in thepresent embodiment, consists of six individual seven-segment displays,which may be, for example, light emitting diode displays, liquid crystaldisplays or the like. In addition, if alpha characters are required inaddition to the numeric characters, additional segments may be provided.Decimal points are also provided between the digits of the display.

The driver 204 comprises six converter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280and 282. In the illustrated embodiment, type 4056 converters,manufactured by RCA and other manufacturers, are used as the converters272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282; however, any converter suitable forconverting a four-bit digit defining word to a seven-bit word forilluminating various segments of the display may be used.

Each of the converter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282 has fourinputs D1 through D4 that are connected to the PIA1 236 and receivedigit defining data from the PIA1 236. In addition, each of theconverter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282 has an input connectedto one of the display strobe outputs DIG1 through DIG6 of the PIA2 238.A 32 Hz clock signal is also applied to the display as well as to theconverter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282. The seven outputs ofeach of the converter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282 areconnected to the seven segments of each of the digits of the display,designated as segments a through g on each of the digits and on theoutputs of the converter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282.

In operation, the digit defining information is presented to all of theconverter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282 via the inputs D1through D4. The data defining the digits is presented sequentially, insynchronism with strobe signals that are applied to the converterdrivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282 via the inputs DIG1 throughDIG6. Thus, when data defining the first digit is applied to the inputsD1 through D4, the strobe DIG1 goes low and causes the converter driver272 to read the data on the lines D1 through D4 defining the firstdigit. Similarly, data defining the second through sixth digits ispresented on the lines D1 through D4 in synchronism with the respectivestrobes DIG2 through DIG6 to cause the various converter drivers 274,276, 278, 280 and 282 to read the respective digit data on the lines D1through D4 at the time they are strobed. Once the digit data has beenread by the converter drivers 272, 274, 276, 278, 280 and 282, theappropriate ones of the segments a through g of the various digits areilluminated to generate the required display.

Since the display illustrated in FIG. 16 is designed to display priceinformation, all of the decimal points, except for decimal pointsassociated with the fifth digit are connected to the 32 Hz clock signalto prevent them from being illuminated. Conversely, the decimal pointassociated with the fifth digit is connected to an out-of-phase 32 Hzsignal to render it permanently illuminated. However, if a permanentlyilluminated decimal point between the dollars and cents digits of thedisplay is not desired, illumination of various decimal points can becontrolled by the microprocessor via one of the peripheral interfaceadapters to provide selective illumination of the various decimalpoints.

The reset circuit 214 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 17, andin the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 17, a type 555 timer circuit andan amplifier 286 are used to provide a reset pulse to the circuitryafter power is first applied to the circuit. Although the reset circuitillustrated in FIG. 17 employs a timer and amplifier, any suitable resetcircuit that provides a reset pulse after turn on to the CPU 222, thePTM 230, and the PIAs 236 and 238 may be utilized.

Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown a typical physical layout forthe print head and driver circuitry illustrated schematically in FIG.15. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the print head 36 is located on thesubstrate 239, and the print head driver circuitry is fabricated fromone or more integrated circuits 208 also located on the substrate 239.Interconnections between the integrated driver circuitry 208 and theindividual print elements are made by a plurality of thick film metallicconductors 292 deposited on the substrate 239 by vapor deposition orother hybrid or thick film circuit techniques. The conductors 292correspond to the interconnections between the AND gates 266 and theprint head 36 (FIG. 15), and if a print head having two-hundredfifty-six individual elements and two common lines, such as the linesCOMM1 and COMM2, is utilized, the number of individual conductors 292may be as few as one-hundred thirty, one-hundred twenty-eight to providethe interconnections between the individual printing elements and theAND gates 266 plus two to serve as the common lines COMM1 and COMM2. Theinputs to the driver circuitry 208 may be provided by a plurality ofconductors 294, similar to the conductors 292. The conductors 292 serveto apply the DATA IN signal as well as the various strobe signals andcommon signals to the integrated circuit driver circuitry 208. Aconnector 296 provides an electrical connection between the conductors294 and the ribbon connector 33 (FIG. 6). Since it is no longernecessary to provide a direct connection between the microprocessor andeach of the individually addressable printing elements when aserial-to-parallel converter is used, the number of conductors 294 andthe number of conductors in the ribbon connector 33 may be substantiallyreduced.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 18, the individual printingelements of the print head 36 are disposed on a single straight linethat is disposed in a direction substantially perpendicular to thedirection of advancement of the web carrying the labels (shown in dashedlines in FIG. 18). By making the length of the print head 36 at leastequal to the width of the label web, printing can be made to occur onany area of the web, thereby permitting any size characters that can beaccommodated by the web to be printed. In addition, reverse, ornegative, characters wherein the background is darkened and thecharacters are light (unprinted) can also be printed utilizing theconfiguration of FIG. 18. Also, by appropriate programming of themicroprocessor characters of various fonts and sizes, as well as variousorientations, for example, perpendicular to or parallel to the directionof advancement of the web. Skew characters can also be printed. Also, byappropriate programming, or by utilizing a print head having two spacedgroups of printing elements, such as the groups 36a and 36b (FIG. 19),certain areas of the web may be reserved as blank areas. Also, byappropriate programming or by utilizing two spaced groups of printingelements, two sets of identical labels can be simultaneously printed ona double width web. These labels can subsequently be separated, eitherby cutting, or by tearing if a perforated web is utilized. FIG. 20 showsfew of the various types of characters that can be printed by thelabeler according to the present invention, but it should be understoodthat many other characters including alpha and numeric characters,including script and non-standard characters, as well as designs can beprinted.

FIGS. 21-26 illustrate the various logical sequences followed by thelogic circuits during the entry and printing of data. FIGS. 21 and 22illustrate the initialization routine wherein the various timers,clocks, registers, etc. are cleared prior to the entry of new data. Inaddition, FIG. 21 illustrates the font and/or format selection processalong with some error checking wherein the font and/or format isselected by entering, via the keyboard or otherwise, data to identifythe font and/or format selected. In addition, the program determineswhether the data entered represents a valid font or format, andrestricts the data that may be entered once the format has beenselected. For example, if the dollar format has been selected, onlynumbers preceded by a dollar sign and having a decimal point between thedollars and cents figures may be entered and printed. If lessrestrictive formats are selected, any form of data may be entered. Also,the VALID KEY ENTERED block of FIG. 22 may incorporate various errorchecking logic, such as, for example, logic permitting only certaincharacters to be placed in a certain field, check digit logic, and logicrequiring the data to be entered twice for verification purposes.

FIG. 23, in conjunction with the print subroutine of FIG. 25,illustrates the printing process. In the printing process, the steppingmotor is started in order to advance the web, and the characters, in theselected font and format, are taken from the print buffer. The datadefining each column forming the selected characaters is sequentiallyapplied to the print head to form the selected characters on acolumn-by-column basis as the web is advanced. During the printingprocess, the length of time that each print element is maintainedenergized may also be adjusted depending on the size of the characterbeing printed, and whether a continuously printed character, or acharacter wherein the individual imprints are visible, is desired. Whenthe printing of a first character has been completed, the next character(or characters, when more than one character is being printed across thewidth of the web) is withdrawn from the print buffer and the process isrepeated until all of the entered characters have been printed.

FIG. 24 illustrates a typical logic sequence that would be employed if aseries of labels having a predetermined numeric or alphanumeric sequencewere desired. As illustrated in FIG. 24, the keyboard is first enabledto receive data defining the first label as well as data defining theincrement between successive labels (and possibly the number ofincrements required or the data defining the last label). In addition,data defining the quantity of each label required may be entered. Oncethe data has been entered and the print switch activated, the printroutine is started to cause a label to be printed. After a label hasbeen printed, a determination is made to see if all required labels ofone type have been printed. If not, the print subroutine is continueduntil all have been printed. After all labels of one type have beenprinted, the number or character in the print buffer is incremented (ordecremented) by the previously entered increment (or decrement). Theroutine then pauses until the print switch is again activated whereuponthe required number of labels containing the incremented (ordecremented) characters are printed.

FIG. 26 illustrates the logical sequence employed for the controlling ofthe web advancing stepping motor. Basically, the logic gradually slewsthe motor up to speed as the printing sequence begins, maintains themotor operating at relatively constant speed until the end of the labelis reached, as indicated by a notch or the like in the web or otherwise,and gradually slows the motor to a stop after the end of the label hasbeen sensed.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to beunderstood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:
 1. A hand-held labelling machine comprising; a housinghaving a manually engageable handle, the housing having means forholding a label supply roll of a composite web having labels releasablyadhered to a backing strip, means for printing on a label at a printingposition, means for peeling the printed label from the backing strip,label applying means disposed adjacent the peeling means, means foradvancing the web to peel a printed label from the backing strip at thepeeling means and advance the printed label into label applyingrelationship with the label applying means and to advance another labelinto the printing position, means for entering selected data to beprinted, means responsive to the data entering means for storing theselected data, means for storing data defining a print format, theprinting means including a thermographic print head having a pluralityof individually selectable print elements for printing on athermographic label at the printing position, means coupled to said datastoring means for electrically processing the selected data andenergizing the individual print elements in a predetermined sequencedetermined by the selected data to print data on the label, wherein saidadvancing means includes signalling means electrically coupled to saidprocessing means for providing a signal representative of the positionof a label relative to the print head, said processing means beingresponsive to said position representative signal and to said formatdefining data for rendering said print head operative to print theselected data on printable fields of the label defined by the formatdefining means.
 2. A hand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 1wherein said format data defining means includes means for restrictingthe data that may be entered to a predetermined set of valid charactersdefined by the format.
 3. A hand-held labelling machine as recited inclaim 1 further including manually operable means cooperating with saidadvancing means and said processing means for causing said advancingmeans to advance said label and to cause said processing means toenergize the individual print elements to print the selected data inaccordance with the defined format upon the operation of said manuallyoperable means.
 4. A hand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 1wherein said advancing means is operative continuously to advance theweb during the printing of the data.
 5. A hand-held labelling machine asrecited in claim 4 wherein said processing means includes error checkingmeans for checking the data received from said data entering means.
 6. Ahand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said errorchecking means includes means for storing format data and means forcomparing data entered by the data entry means with the defined formatdata and enabling the data entered to be printed only if the entereddata has a predetermined relationship to the format data.
 7. A hand-heldlabelling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said processing meansincludes means for storing data representative of various fonts of saidcharacters.
 8. A hand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 7wherein said processing means includes means for storing datarepresentative of various sizes of said characters.
 9. A hand-heldlabelling machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said processing meansincludes means for receiving the data and operating the elements in saidthermographic print head to print out the data in any predetermined fontand format.
 10. A hand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 1wherein said individually selectable print elements are disposed in anarray having a density of approximately 200 elements per inch.
 11. Ahand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said array isa straight line array disposed transverse to the direction ofadvancement of the web.
 12. A hand-held labelling machine comprising; ahousing having a manually engageable handle, the housing having meansfor holding a label supply roll of a composite web having labelsreleaseably adhered to a backing strip, means for printing on a label ata printing position, means for peeling the printed label from thebacking strip, label applying means disposed adjacent the peeling means,means for advancing the web to peel a printed label from the backingstrip at the peeling means and advance the printed label into labelapplying relationship with the label applying means and to advanceanother label into the printing position, means for entering selecteddata to be printed, the printing means including a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually selectable print elements forprinting on a thermographic label at the printing position, meanscoupled to said data entering means for electrically processing theselected data and energizing the individual print elements in apredetermined sequence determined by the selected data to print data onthe label, manually operable means coupled to the processing means andto the advancing means, said manually operable means being operative tocause the advancing means to initiate the feeding of the web past theprint position and to cause the processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the labelwhile the web is advancing.
 13. A hand-held labelling machinecomprising; a housing having a manually engageable handle, the housinghaving means for holding a label supply roll of a composite web havinglabels releaseably adhered to a backing strip, means for printing on alabel at a printing position, means for peeling the printed label fromthe backing strip, label applying means disposed adjacent the peelingmeans, means for advancing the web to peel a printed label from thebacking strip at the peeling means and advance the printed label intolabel applying relationship with the label applying means and to advanceanother label into the printing position, means for entering selecteddata to be printed, the printing means including a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually selectable print elements forprinting on a thermographic label at the printing position, meanscoupled to said data entering means for electrically processing theselected data and energizing the individual print elements in apredetermined sequence determined by the selected data to print data onthe label, manually operable means coupled to the processing means andto the advancing means, said manually operable means being operative tocause the advancing means to initiate the feeding of the web past theprint position and to cause the processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the labelwhile the web is advancing, said processing means further includingmeans defining a print format, wherein the format defining means, themanually operable means, the advancing means and the processing meanscooperate to cause the advancing means to advance the label and to causethe processing means to energize the individual print elements to printthe selected data while the web is advancing in accordance with thedefined format upon the operation of said manually operable means.
 14. Ahand-held labelling machine comprising; a housing having a manuallyengageable handle, the housing having means for holding a label supplyroll of a composite web having labels releaseably adhered to a backingstrip, means for printing on a label at a printing position, means forpeeling the printed label from the backing strip, label applying meansdisposed adjacent the peeling means, means for advancing the web to peela printed label from the backing strip at the peeling means and advancethe printed label into label applying relationship with the labelapplying means and to advance another label into the printing position,means for entering selected data to be printed, the printing meansincluding a thermographic print head having a plurality of individuallyselectable print elements for printing on a thermographic label at theprinting position, means coupled to said data entering means forelectrically processing the selected data and energizing the individualprint elements in a predetermined sequence determined by the selecteddata to print data on the label, manually operable means coupled to theprocessing means and to the advancing means, said manually operablemeans being operative to cause the advancing means to initiate thefeeding of the web past the print position and to cause the processingmeans to operate the thermographic printing head to print the selecteddata on the label while the web is advancing, wherein said processingmeans includes error checking means for checking the data received fromsaid data entering means.
 15. A hand-held labelling machine comprising;a housing having a manually engageable handle, the housing having meansfor holding a label supply roll of a composite web having labelsreleaseably adhered to a backing strip, means for printing on a label ata printing position, means for peeling the printed label from thebacking strip, label applying means disposed adjacent the peeling means,means for advancing the web to peel a printed label from the backingstrip at the peeling means and advance the printed label into labelapplying relationship with the label applying means and to advanceanother label into the printing position, means for entering selecteddata to be printed, the printing means including a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually selectable print elements forprinting on a thermographic label at the printing position, meanscoupled to said data entering means for electrically processing theselected data and energizing the individual print elements in apredetermined sequence determined by the selected data to print data onthe label, manually operable means coupled to the processing means andto the advancing means, said manually operable means being operative tocause the advancing means to initiate the feeding of the web past theprint position and to cause the processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the labelwhile the web is advancing, wherein said processing means includes meansfor storing data representative of various fonts of said characters. 16.A hand-held labelling machine comprising; a housing having a manuallyengageable handle, the housing having means for holding a label supplyroll of a composite web having labels releaseably adhered to a backingstrip, means for printing on a label at a printing position, means forpeeling the printed label from the backing strip, label applying meansdisposed adjacent the peeling means, means for advancing the web to peela printed label from the backing strip at the peeling means and advancethe printed label into label applying relationship with the labelapplying means and to advance another label into the printing position,means for entering selected data to be printed, the printing meansincluding a thermographic print head having a plurality of individuallyselectable print elements for printing on a thermographic label at theprinting position, means coupled to said data entering means forelectrically processing the selected data and energizing the individualprint elements in a predetermined sequence determined by the selecteddata to print data on the label, manually operable means coupled to theprocessing means and to the advancing means, said manually operablemeans being operative to cause the advancing means to initiate thefeeding of the web past the print position and to cause the processingmeans to operate the thermographic printing head to print the selecteddata on the label while the web is advancing, wherein said processingmeans includes means for receiving the data and operating the elementsin said thermographic print head to print out the data in anypredetermined font and format.
 17. A hand-held labelling machinecomprising; a housing having a manually engageable handle, the housinghaving means for holding a label supply roll of a composite web havinglabels releaseably adhered to a backing strip, means for printing on alabel at a printing position, means for peeling the printed label fromthe backing strip, label applying means disposed adjacent the peelingmeans, means for advancing the web to peel a printed label from thebacking strip at the peeling means and advance the printed label intolabel applying relationship with the label applying means and to advanceanother label into the printing position, means for entering selecteddata to be printed, the printing means including a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually selectable print elements forprinting on a thermographic label at the printing position, meanscoupled to said data entering means for electrically processing theselected data and energizing the individual print elements in apredetermined sequence determined by the selected data to print data onthe label, manually operable means coupled to the processing means andto the advancing means, said manually operable means being operative tocause the advancing means to initiate the feeding of the web past theprint position and to cause the processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the labelwhile the web is advancing, and means electrically coupling theprocessing means and the thermographic print head, said coupling meansincluding a pluralilty of individual conductors electricallyinterconnecting the print head and the processing means, the number ofsaid individual conductors being fewer than the number of individuallyselectable printing elements forming said printing head, said electricalcoupling means including a serial-to-parallel converter interposedbetween said thermographic printing head and said plurality ofindividual conductors.
 18. A hand-held labelling machine comprising; ahousing having a manually engageable handle, the housing having meansfor holding a label supply roll of a composite web having labelsreleaseably adhered to a backing strip, means for printing on a label ata printing position, means for peeling the printed label from thebacking strip, label applying means disposed adjacent the peeling means,means for advancing the web to peel a printed label from the backingstrip at the peeling means and advance the printed label into labelapplying relationship with the label applying means and to advanceanother label into the printing position, means for entering selecteddata to be printed, the printing means including a thermographic printhead having a plurality of individually selectable print elements forprinting on a thermographic label at the printing position, meanscoupled to said data entering means for electrically processing theselected data and energizing the individual print elements in apredetermined sequence determined by the selected data to print data onthe label, manually operable means coupled to the processing means andto the advancing means, said manually operable means being operative tocause the advancing means to initiate the feeding of the web past theprint position and to cause the processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the labelwhile the web is advancing, wherein said processing means includes fontand format defining means for receiving the data and operating theelements in said thermographic print head to print out the data in anypredetermined font and format and error checking means for checking thedata received from said data entering means.
 19. A hand-held labellingmachine as recited in claim 12 wherein said individually selectableprint elements are disposed in an array having a density ofapproximately 200 elements per inch.
 20. A hand-held labelling machineas recited in claim 19 wherein said array is a straight line arraydisposed transverse to the direction of advancement of the web.
 21. Ahand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 14 wherein said formatdefining means includes means for storing format data, and said errorchecking means includes means for comparing the selected data from thedata entry means with the stored format data and enabling the selecteddata entered to be printed only if the selected data has a predeterminedrelationship to the format data.
 22. A hand-held labelling machine asrecited in claim 15 wherein said processing means includes means forstoring data representative of various sizes of such for characters. 23.A hand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 18 wherein said fontand format defining means includes means for storing format data, andsaid error checking means includes means for comparing the selected datafrom the data entry means with the stored format data and enabling theselected data entered to be printed only if the selected data has apredetermined relationship to the format data.
 24. A hand-held labellingmachine as recited in any one of claims 12-18 or 21-23 wherein saidthermographic print head includes a straight line array of thermographicprint elements disposed in a direction transverse to the direction ofadvancement of the web.
 25. A hand-held labelling machine comprising: ahousing having a manually engageable handle, the housing having meansfor holding a label supply roll of a composite web having labelsreleasably adhered to a backing strip, means for printing on a label ata printing position, means for peeling the printed label from thebacking strip, label applying means disposed adjacent the peeling means,means for advancing the web to peel a printed label from the backingstrip at the peeling means and advance the printed label into labelapplying relationship with the label applying means and to advanceanother label into the printing position, means including data entrymeans on the housing for entering selected data to be printed, theprinting means including a thermographic printing head having aplurality of individually selectable printing elements powered by asource of electrical energy for printing on a thermographic label at theprinting position, means coupled to the data entry means for receivingand electrically processing data representative of the selected dataentered via the data entry means, means electrically coupling the datareceiving and processing means and the thermographic printing head, andmeans for causing the data receiving and processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the label,wherein said data processing means includes control means for receivingthe data and operating the printing elements in said thermographicprinting head to print out selected data in a predetermined font andformat, wherein said control means includes means for storinginformation representative of one of a plurality of fonts and formats,and is responsive to one of font and format identifying data receivedfrom said data entry means to select one of said plurality of fonts andformats, said control means further including means for providing asignal representative of a printable area or areas on the label definedby the selected format for rendering said print head operative while thecomposite web is being advanced by the advancing means to print theselected data in registration with the printable area or areas.
 26. Ahand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 25 further includingmeans responsive to the identifying data for enabling a font or formatto be selected only if identifying data corresponding to one of thestored fonts and formats is entered.
 27. A hand-held labelling machineas recited in claim 25 further including means for determining whetherthe selected data to be printed is compatible with the selected formatin order to restrict the data that may be entered by said data entrymeans to data compatible with the selected format once the format hasbeen selected.
 28. A hand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 25further including means for comparing successively entered selected dataand for enabling the entered selected data to be printed only if thesame selected data is entered twice in succession.
 29. A hand-heldlabelling machine as recited in claim 25 wherein said receiving andprocessing means further includes means responsive to the operation ofthe data entry means for rendering said labelling machine operative toprint a selected number of labels in the selected one of the fonts andformats.
 30. A hand-held labelling machine comprising: a housing havinga manually engageable handle, the housing having means for holding alabel supply roll of a composite web having labels releaseably adheredto a backing strip, means for printing on a label at a printingposition, means for peeling the printed label from the backing strip,label applying means disposed adjacent the peeling means, means foradvancing the web to peel a printed label from the backing strip at thepeeling means and advance the printed label into label applyingrelationship with the label applying means and to advance another labelinto the printing position, means including data entry means on thehousing for entering selected data to be printed, the printing meansincluding a thermographic printing head having a plurality ofindividually selectable printing elements powered by a source ofelectrical energy for printing on a thermographic label at the printingposition, means coupled to the data entry means for receiving andelectrically processing data representative of the selected data enteredvia the data entry means, means electrically coupling the data receivingand processing means and the thermographic printing head, and means forcausing the data receiving and processing means to operate thethermographic printing head to print the selected data on the label,wherein said data receiving and processing means includes font andformat control means for causing the print-out of said data by saidprinting elements to be arranged in a selected one of a plurality ofpredetermined fonts and formats as defined by font and formatidentifying information stored in said data receiving and processingmeans, said font and format control means being operative to enable saiddata entry means to only accept input of predetermined font and formatidentifying data for selection of a desired font and format prior toentry of the selected data to be printed, and subsequently to determinewhether the entered data represent a valid font and format, and once thefont and format has been selected, enabling said data entry means toonly accept input of data which are restricted to comply with theselected font and format.
 31. A hand-held labelling machine as recitedin claim 30 further including means for comparing successively enteredselected data and for enabling the entered selected data to be printedonly if the same selected data is entered twice in succession.
 32. Ahand-held labelling machine as recited in claim 30 wherein saidreceiving and processing means further includes means responsive to theoperation of the data entry means for rendering said labelling machineoperative to print a selected number of labels in the selected font orformat or both.